Redlands, CA - Rory Sutherland of the Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis showed his all-around talent by bookending the 2008 Redlands Classic with a win in the opening climbing prologue, and a third place in the sprint finish of the final stage, the Sunset Road Race. The final stage result helped him to fourth overall for the race, two places better than the 2007 edition.

"It was a difficult finish," he said of the closing kilometers of the final stage, which are run on the same circuit as the Saturday criterium. "A number of teams had four guys each in the final bunch. I was happy to get third out of that group. The guy who won is a pure sprinter, and they set him up well. It's all about good positioning and being near the front on the final two turns. With a course that difficult, a lot of guys in the front group are just happy to get to the finish line in the main bunch. But you're not going to get any results unless you have a got at it."

Sutherland notes that his strong results in Redlands following podium appearances in the final two stages of the Amgen Tour of California, are proof that his training and racing plans for the early part of the spring are paying off.

"It's a good sign that what I've been doing is the right thing," he said. "Staying in California has paid off. I'm developing a good base for the rest of the season, and the good results are keeping the team together and positive even when we've had some bad luck."

A new dynamic

The first NRC race of the season likely served as a microcosm demonstrating the new dynamic of the domestic peloton this season. After Sutherland's win of the opening prologue, riders from three different teams won the remaining three stages, including Stage 2 winner Santiago Botero (Rock Racing), who went on to win the overall title.

"It's definitely more open this year," Sutherland said. "There's no pure, dominating group of riders. You can see that in the stage finishes at Redlands this year. It's a different dynamic. It will be harder to dominate races. We and the other teams will have to come to terms with that.

"The racing will be less predictable and more exciting for the fans," he continued. "But that's good. It keeps the sport going, it's good for the promoters and great for cycling in general."

Sutherland and a full squad from Health Net Presented by Maxxis will keep going this weekend at the Garrett Lemire Memorial Grand Prix in Ojai, California on Sunday.

Health Net Presented by Maxxis for Garrett Lemire:
Corey Collier
Kyle Gritters
Roman Kilun
Karl Menzies
John Murphy
Kirk O'Bee
Rory Sutherland